Custom error page enabled via networked computing service

ABSTRACT

An approach is provided for queuing clients when a web page is temporarily unavailable. The approach includes providing a computer infrastructure operable to: maintain a queue of clients requesting the web page; receive an indication of an availability number from a host of the web page; and release one or more of the clients from the queue equal to the availability number indicated by the host, based on the receiving the indication of the availability number.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to handling requests for webpages and, more particularly, to methods and systems for providing acustom error page when a host is temporarily unavailable.

BACKGROUND

Websites (e.g., Internet websites) that experience fast-paced growthand/or have a spike in user traffic sometimes fail to handle the amountof page requests submitted by browsers. Typical scenarios include, forexample: a website that receives a prominent media mention that spikestraffic; a website that quickly gains popularity that increases trafficfaster than infrastructure is upgraded; and a website that is running apopular sale and is overwhelmed by the number of customers. In all ofthese scenarios, the host's opportunity to capitalize on the increasedtraffic is lost when users are unable to access the website.

When a user points their web browser to a URL (uniform resourcelocator), i.e., requests a web page, they are either served up the pageor given one of several predefined error pages describing what happenedwith their request. In the case where the hosting server is too busy orunable to currently fulfill the request, the user's browser may displayan error page, e.g., “503 Error”, “Service Temporarily Unavailable”,“Service Unavailable”, etc. The error page typically instructs the userto try again later, since the target web page is expected to beavailable later either when load decreases or when some other problem isfixed.

Upon receiving an error page, users typically try to reload the pageseveral times either until the page comes up or they become tired ofwaiting, which causes additional load on the server hosting the targetweb page. This is not a very efficient solution for the user since theyare spending time resubmitting their request. Moreover, if the userstops attempting to access the web page after receiving an error page,the website has lost site traffic and potential revenue, e.g.,advertising, product sales, click revenue, etc.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the invention, there is a method of queuing clientswhen a web page is temporarily unavailable. The method includesproviding a computer infrastructure operable to: maintain a queue ofclients requesting the web page; receive an indication of anavailability number from a host of the web page; and release one or moreof the clients from the queue equal to the availability number indicatedby the host, based on the receiving the indication of the availabilitynumber.

In another aspect of the invention, a system is implemented in hardwareand includes a computer infrastructure operable to receive an indicationfrom a client that a web page is temporarily unavailable. The computerinfrastructure is further operable to add the client to a queue with aplurality of other clients waiting for the web page. The computerinfrastructure is also operable to send queue data to the client. Thecomputer infrastructure is additionally operable to periodically receivecalls from the client. The computer infrastructure is even furtheroperable to provide updated queue data to the client based on the calls,wherein the queue data and the updated queue data include queue positionand estimated wait time for the client.

In an additional aspect of the invention, a computer program productincludes a computer usable storage medium having readable program codeembodied in the storage medium. The computer program product includes atleast one component operable to: receive a request for a web page from aclient; determine a temporary inability to serve the web page to theclient; and send an error page to the client. The error page includes ascript that is configured to: automatically add the client to a queueassociated with the web page; and automatically re-submit a request forthe web page to the host upon the client being released from the queue.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is a method implemented in acomputer infrastructure comprising a combination of hardware andsoftware. The method includes: submitting a request for a web page to ahost; receiving an error response from the host indicating that the webpage is temporarily unavailable; and sending a request to a service tobe included in a queue associated with the web page. The method alsoincludes receiving queue data from the service; displaying a customerror page based on the queue data; and receiving a token from theservice. The method further includes: submitting a second request forthe web page to the host, wherein the second request includes the token;receiving the web page from the host based on the second requestincluding the token; and displaying the web page.

In another aspect of the invention, a computer system for queuingclients when a web page of a host is temporarily unavailable includes aCPU, a computer readable memory and a computer readable storage media.The system includes first program instructions to receive an indicationfrom a browser of a client that the web page is temporarily unavailable.The system includes second program instructions to add the client to aqueue with a plurality of other clients waiting for the web page. Thesystem includes third program instructions to provide queue data to theclient, wherein the queue data includes queue position and estimatedwait time for the client. The system includes fourth programinstructions to receive an indication of availability to handle new pagerequests from the host of the web page. The system includes fifthprogram instructions to release the client from the queue based on thereceiving the indication of availability. The first, second, third,fourth, and fifth program instructions are stored on the computerreadable storage media for execution by the CPU via the computerreadable memory. The releasing comprises providing a token to the clientand deleting the client from the queue, the token being a data structurethat indicates to the host that the client has been released from thequeue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in the detailed description whichfollows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way ofnon-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a cloud computing node according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a cloud computing environment according to embodiments ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts abstraction model layers according to embodiments of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a queuing block diagram in accordance with aspects of theinvention;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary custom error page in accordance with aspectsof the invention; and

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary flow diagram in accordance with aspects ofthe invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention generally relates to handling requests for webpages and, more particularly, to methods and systems for providing acustom error page when a host is temporarily unavailable. In accordancewith aspects of the invention, a website host returns a custom errorpage to a client browser when the host is temporarily unable to providea target web page that was requested by the client browser. Inembodiments, the custom error page contacts a service that maintains aqueue of all client browsers that have received a custom error page fromthe particular host for the particular target web page. Each clientbrowser may asynchronously poll the service to determine the status ofits page request, e.g., place in the queue, expected wait time, etc. Inembodiments, the host informs the service when the host is able tohandle a number of new page requests, and the service releases thatnumber of client browsers from the queue. Upon being released from thequeue, each client browser automatically re-submits its page request tothe host, and the host provides the target web page to the clientbrowser. In this manner, implementations of the invention providemethods and systems for intelligently handling web page requests when ahost is temporarily unavailable.

In embodiments, the service that maintains the queue and performs one ormore of the functions described herein may be implemented in a cloudcomputing infrastructure, as described in greater detail herein.Additionally, the service may maintain the queue as a FIFO (first infirst out) queue.

Cloud Computing

It is understood in advance that although this disclosure includes adetailed description on cloud computing, implementation of the teachingsrecited herein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

For convenience, the Detailed Description includes the followingdefinitions which have been derived from the “Draft NIST WorkingDefinition of Cloud Computing” by Peter Mell and Tim Grance, dated Oct.7, 2009, which is cited in an IDS filed herewith, and a copy of which isattached thereto.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g. networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure comprising anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10 is only one example of a suitablecloud computing node and is not intended to suggest any limitation as tothe scope of use or functionality of embodiments of the inventiondescribed herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10 is capable ofbeing implemented and/or performing any of the functionality set forthhereinabove. FIG. 1 can also represent a computing infrastructurecapable of performing and/or implementing tasks and/or functions of themethods described herein.

In cloud computing node 10 there is a computer system/server 12, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12 include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12 may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12 may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, computer system/server 12 in cloud computing node 10is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 12 may include, but are not limitedto, one or more processors or processing units 16, a system memory 28,and a bus 18 that couples various system components including systemmemory 28 to processor 16. In embodiments, the computer system/server 12comprises or communicates with a queue engine 80 as described in greaterdetail herein.

Bus 18 represents one or more of any of several types of bus structures,including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, anaccelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus using any of avariety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation,such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus,Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, VideoElectronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and PeripheralComponent Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12 typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28 can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30 and/or cachememory 32. Computer system/server 12 may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34 can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18 by one or more datamedia interfaces. As will be further depicted and described below,memory 28 may include at least one program product having a set (e.g.,at least one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42,may be stored in memory 28 by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, one or more application programs, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, one ormore application programs, other program modules, and program data orsome combination thereof, may include an implementation of a networkingenvironment. Program modules 42 generally carry out the functions and/ormethodologies of embodiments of the invention as described herein. Forexample, some or all of the functions of the queue engine 80 may beimplemented as one or more of the program modules 42. Additionally, thequeue engine 80 may be implemented as separate dedicated processors or asingle or several processors to provide the functionality describedherein. In embodiments, the queue engine 80 performs one or more of theprocesses described herein, including but not limited to: maintain aqueue of clients (e.g., browsers) that have received a custom error pagefrom a host (e.g., HTTP server) for a particular web page; provide queuedata (e.g., position in the queue, estimated wait time, etc.) to each ofthe clients in the queue; receive polling from the clients and provideupdated queue data based on the polling; receive an indication from thehost to release one or more clients from the queue; and provide a tokento the one or more clients at the top of the queue based on receivingthe indication from the host.

Computer system/server 12 may also communicate with one or more externaldevices 14 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display 24, etc.;one or more devices that enable a user to interact with computersystem/server 12; and/or any devices (e.g., network card, modem, etc.)that enable computer system/server 12 to communicate with one or moreother computing devices. Such communication can occur via I/O interfaces22. Still yet, computer system/server 12 can communicate with one ormore networks such as a local area network (LAN), a general wide areanetwork (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g., the Internet) via networkadapter 20. As depicted, network adapter 20 communicates with the othercomponents of computer system/server 12 via bus 18. It should beunderstood that although not shown, other hardware and/or softwarecomponents could be used in conjunction with computer system/server 12.Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode, device drivers,redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays, RAID (redundantarray of inexpensive disks or redundant array of independent disks)systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 comprises one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 2 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 3, a set of functional abstraction layers providedby cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 2) is shown. It should beunderstood in advance that the components, layers, and functions shownin FIG. 3 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments of theinvention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layers andcorresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include mainframes, in oneexample IBM® zSeries® systems; RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer)architecture based servers, in one example IBM pSeries® systems; IBMxSeries® systems; IBM BladeCenter® systems; storage devices; networksand networking components. Examples of software components includenetwork application server software, in one example IBM WebSphere®application server software; and database software, in one example IBMDB2® database software. (IBM, zSeries, pSeries, xSeries, BladeCenter,WebSphere, and DB2 are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation registered in many jurisdictions worldwide).

Virtualization layer 62 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers;virtual storage; virtual networks, including virtual private networks;virtual applications and operating systems; and virtual clients.

In one example, management layer 64 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning provides dynamic procurement of computingresources and other resources that are utilized to perform tasks withinthe cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing provide costtracking as resources are utilized within the cloud computingenvironment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may comprise applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management providescloud computing resource allocation and management such that requiredservice levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planning andfulfillment provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of, cloudcomputing resources for which a future requirement is anticipated inaccordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 66 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation; software development and lifecycle management; virtualclassroom education delivery; data analytics processing; transactionprocessing; and web page request queuing. In accordance with aspects ofthe invention, the web page request queuing workload/function operatesto perform one or more of the processes of the queue engine 80 describedherein, including but not limited to: maintain a queue of clients (e.g.,browsers) that have received a custom error page from a host (e.g., HTTPserver) for a particular web page; provide queue data (e.g., position inthe queue, estimated wait time, etc.) to each of the clients in thequeue; receive polling from the clients and provide updated queue databased on the polling; receive an indication from the host to release oneor more clients from the queue; and provide a token to the one or moreclients at the top of the queue based on receiving the indication fromthe host.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention, including the queue engine 80 and the functionality providedtherein, may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Block Diagram and Exemplary Operation

FIG. 4 depicts a queuing block diagram in accordance with aspects of theinvention. In embodiments, any number of clients 95 a, 95 b, . . . , 95n can communicate with any number of hosts 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 nvia a network 105, e.g., via the Internet. Each client 95 a, 95 b, . . ., 95 n may be similar to the local computing devices 54A-N depicted inFIG. 2, and may comprise a browser 110, e.g., a software application forretrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on theWorld Wide Web. Moreover, each host 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100 n maycomprise an HTTP server (Hypertext Transfer Protocol server), or otherweb server, configured to deliver one or more web pages upon request toany number of clients 95 a, 95 b, . . . , 95 n via the network 105(e.g., the Internet).

Still referring to FIG. 4, in accordance with aspects of the invention,a computer system/server 12 runs or communicates with a queue engine 80(e.g., as described with respect to FIG. 1). The computer system/server12 and queue engine 80 may be associated with a node in the cloud (e.g.,node 10 as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2), and may communicate with theclients 95 a, 95 b, . . . , 95 n and the hosts 100 a, 100 b, . . . , 100n via the network 105. The queue engine 80 may store data associatedwith one or more queues at a physical data storage device 115, which maycomprise, for example, a storage node in the cloud as depicted in FIG.2.

As depicted at step “A” in FIG. 4, a client 95 a may use a browser 110to send an HTTP request (e.g., a request for a web page) to a targethost 100 a via the network 105. This initial HTTP request may beperformed in any suitable conventional manner. In the event the host 100a is available for handling the HTTP request from the client 95 a, theHTTP server 130 of the host 100 a delivers the requested web page to theclient 95 a via the network 105, e.g., in a conventional manner. On theother hand, when the host 100 a is temporarily not available forhandling the HTTP request from the client 95 a, the HTTP server 130 ofthe host 100 a delivers an error response to the client 95 a via thenetwork 105, as depicted at step “B” in FIG. 4. The host 100 a may betemporarily not available to handle the request for any reason,including it being overloaded by too many requests from clients or downfor maintenance, e.g., as with a 503 error situation.

In accordance with aspects of the invention, an agent 135 associatedwith the host 100 a detects when the host 100 a is temporarilyunavailable for handling new page requests from clients. For example,the agent 135 may detect that the HTTP server 130 of the host 100 a hasno processing threads available for handling new page requests. In thissituation, the agent 135 causes the host 100 a to switch to atoken-based operating mode in which the HTTP server 130 only handlesHTTP requests that include a token as described in greater detailherein. The agent 135 may comprise, for example, a plug-in to the HTTPserver 130.

In embodiments, the error response at step “B” comprises a custom errorpage that has an embedded script. At step “C”, the script causes thebrowser 110 to automatically contact the queue engine 80 and requestinclusion in a queue associated with the web page that is the subject ofthe initial HTTP request (e.g., the web page requested at step “A”). Therequest at step “C” may include, for example, data identifying theclient 95 a, data identifying the target web page and/or host 100 a, anindication that the web page is temporarily unavailable, and a timestamp(e.g., associated with the HTTP request at step “A” and/or the errorresponse at step B). As used herein, automatically contacting the queueengine means that it is not necessary for the user of the client 95 a toprovide input to initiate the contacting. Embodiments of the inventionmay be implemented with an opt-out procedure, where the browser promptsthe user for permission to contact the queue engine and only contactsthe queue engine for inclusion in the queue upon receiving permissionfrom the user.

At step “D”, the queue engine 80 transmits queue data back to thebrowser 110 as a result of the request for inclusion in the queue (e.g.,the request from step “C”). The queue data may include, for example, aunique identifier for this client 95 a for this HTTP request, a positionin the queue, and an estimated wait time in the queue. In embodiments,the browser 110 displays a custom error page 200 at the client 95 abased on the queue data as described in greater detail herein withrespect to FIG. 5.

In embodiments, the queue engine 80 maintains data that defines an orderof respective clients (e.g., clients 95 a, 95 b, . . . , 95 n) in aparticular queue for a particular web page associated with a particularhost 100 a. For example, there may be tens, hundreds, or even thousandsof clients simultaneously requesting a web page from a single host 100a. In embodiments, when the agent 135 redirects clients to the queueengine 80 based on determining that the host 100 a is temporarilyunavailable, the queue engine 80 maintains an ordered FIFO (first infirst out) queue of the respective clients based on the timestamps.

Still referring to FIG. 4, at step “E”, the script in the custom errorpage periodically causes the browser 110 to asynchronously call/poll thequeue engine 80 to get updated queue data, e.g., an updated position inthe queue, an updated estimated wait time in the queue, etc. At step“F”, the queue engine 80 transmits the updated queue data back to thebrowser 110, which updates and displays the custom error page 200 at theclient 95 a based on the updated queue data. In embodiments, the queueengine 80 is configured to determine and provide unique queue data foreach client in the queue.

According to aspects of the invention, at step “G”, the agent 135determines that the host 100 a is capable of handling “n” number of newrequests for the web page, and the agent 135 communicates this number“n” to the queue engine 80. For example, the agent 135 may detect “n”number of threads are (e.g., have become) available to process newrequests at the HTTP server 130 in the host 100 a, and instruct thequeue engine 80 to release the next “n” clients from the queueassociated with this web page. The number “n” may be referred to as anavailability number indicated by the host 100 a.

At step “H”, the queue engine 80 transmits a token to the next “n”number of clients (e.g., client 95 a) at the top of the FIFO queueassociated with the particular web page from step “G”. The transmissionof tokens at step “H” may be performed in a push or pull manner. Forexample, in a push scenario where client 95 a is one of the next “n”number of clients at the top of the FIFO queue, the queue engine 80 maytransmit the token to client 95 a without waiting for client 95 a toinitiate another asynchronous call (e.g., the asynchronous call asperformed at step “E”).

In a pull scenario, the queue engine 80 waits until one or more of thenext “n” number of clients at the top of the FIFO queue makes anotherasynchronous call, e.g., as at step “E”, and transmits the token to theclient after and as a result of receiving the asynchronous call. Forexample, in the pull scenario where client 95 a is one of the next “n”number of clients at the top of the FIFO queue, the queue engine 80waits until client 95 a makes another asynchronous call, e.g., as atstep “E”, and transmits the token to the client 95 a as a result ofreceiving the asynchronous call. In this manner, the queue engine 80 mayprovide a token to each of the next “n” number of clients at the top ofthe FIFO queue.

Upon sending a token to the client 95 a, the queue engine 80 deletes theclient 95 a from the queue and adjusts the position of the remainingclients in the queue according to the deletion (e.g., moving remainingclients up in the queue). In embodiments, the token is any suitable datastructure that identifies the client 95 a as having been released fromthe queue by the queue engine 80. For example, the token may comprise adata structure that directs the host to handle a page request with thetoken ahead of a page request without the token.

Upon receiving the token at step “H”, the script causes the browser 110to automatically re-submit the HTTP request and the token to the host100 a at step “I”. Upon receiving the re-submitted HTTP request with thetoken at step “I”, the host 100 a processes the HTTP request anddelivers the requested web page to the client 95 a at step “J”.

In accordance with aspects of the invention, the host 100 a only handlesHTTP requests that include a token when the agent 135 has switched thehost 100 a to token-based operating mode. In this manner, the host 100 aenforces the ordering implemented by the queue at the queue engine 80,and does not serve new HTTP requests (e.g., from other client not in thequeue) ahead of those that have been waiting in the queue. When thenumber of clients in the queue maintained by the queue engine 80 reacheszero, the agent 135 switches the host 100 a to normal (e.g.,non-token-based) operating mode in which page requests without tokensare handled by the HTTP server 130 in a conventional manner.

In embodiments, the queue engine 80 deletes a client from the queue whenthe client browser fails to send a predetermined number ofasynchronously calls for updated queue data, e.g., as at step “E”. Forexample, when a user of the client 95 a closes the browser (or browsertab) containing the custom error page or navigates the browser away fromthe custom error page, the script no longer causes the browser 110 toasynchronously call the queue engine. The queue engine may be configuredto expect a new asynchronous call from each browser at a predeterminedtime interval. When the queue engine 80 determines that the browser inno longer making the expected asynchronous call, the queue engine 80 maydelete that client from the queue and adjust the position of otherclients in the queue according to the deletion.

Still referring to FIG. 4, in additional embodiments, the agent 135 maybe configured (e.g., via appropriate programming) to monitor performancedata of the host 100 a and provide this performance data to the queueagent 80 for determining expected wait times in the queue. For example,the agent 135 may determine an average response time for the host 100 ato handle a page request during non-peak times, e.g., when the host 100a is not overloaded. The queue engine 80 may use this average responsetime in association with each client's position in the queue tocalculate a respective estimated wait time for each client in the queue.

Although the queue engine 80 is described in the example of FIG. 4 withrespect to a single client 95 a and a single host 100 a, it isunderstood that the queue engine 80 is configured to queue any number ofclients (e.g., 95 a-n) for any particular web page hosted by a host 100a. Moreover, the queue engine 80 may be configured to simultaneouslymaintain and manage plural different queues for plural differentwebsites from any number of hosts 100 a-n, with any number of clients ineach of the queues.

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary custom error page 200 in accordance withaspects of the invention. The custom error page 200 may be displayed bythe browser (e.g., browser 110) of a user computing device (e.g., client95 a). In embodiments, the custom error page 200 may include at leastone of: first data 205 indicating that the requested web page istemporarily unavailable; second data 210 informing the user that theyhave been placed in a queue or virtual waiting room; third data 215indicating the user's position in the queue; fourth data 220 indicatingthe user's estimated wait time in the queue; and fifth data 225informing the user not to refresh the page of resend the HTTP request.The third data 215 indicating the user's position in the queue, and thefourth data 220 indicating the user's estimated wait time in the queue,may be periodically updated by the queue engine (e.g., queue engine 80)during periodic asynchronous calls (e.g., as at step “E” of FIG. 4). Itis also contemplated that the data may be customized for the client.

Flow Diagrams

FIG. 6 shows an exemplary flow for performing aspects of the presentinvention. The steps of FIG. 6 may be implemented in any of theenvironments of FIGS. 1-5, for example.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Furthermore, the invention can take the form of a computer programproduct accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable mediumproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. The software and/or computer programproduct can be implemented in the environment of FIGS. 1-5. For thepurposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readablemedium can be any apparatus that can contain, store, communicate,propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with theinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium can be anelectronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium.Examples of a computer-readable storage medium include a semiconductoror solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magneticdisk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks includecompact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disc-read/write (CD-R/W)and DVD.

FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary flow depicting aspects of processes inaccordance with aspects of the present invention. At step 605, a clientcomputing device (e.g., client 95 a) sends an HTTP request (e.g., webpage request) to a web server (e.g. host 100 a) via a network (e.g.,network 105). Step 605 may be performed in a manner similar to step “A”described above.

At step 610, the host determines whether it is available to handle theHTTP request from step 605. In embodiments, an agent (e.g., agent 135)determines the availability based on a number of available threads in anHTTP server (e.g., HTTP server 130) of the host. In the event the HTTPserver of the host is available, then at step 615 the host serves therequested web page to the client. On the other hand, when the HTTPserver of the host is temporarily not available, then at step 620 theagent switches the HTTP server to token-based operating mode, and atstep 625 the HTTP server returns an error page to the client. Step 625may be performed in a manner similar to step “B” described above. Fromthe perspective of the host, steps 605, 610, and 625 constitutereceiving a request for a web page from a client, determining atemporary inability to serve the web page to the client, and sending anerror page to the client.

At step 630, a script embedded in the error page causes the clientbrowser to automatically contact a queue engine (e.g., queue engine 80),indicating that the web page is temporarily unavailable, and requestinginclusion in a queue associated with the web page that is the target ofthe HTTP request of step 605. Step 630 may be performed in a mannersimilar to step “C” described above.

At step 635, the queue engine places the client in a queue (e.g., a FIFOqueue) associated with the web page that is the target of the HTTPrequest of step 605, and returns queue data to the client. The queuedata may include, for example, the client's position in the queue and anestimated wait time. Step 635 may be performed in a manner similar tostep “D” described above. At step 640, the client browser displays acustom error page on the client computer device. The custom error pagemay be similar to that shown in FIG. 5.

At step 645, the client browser asynchronously calls (e.g., polls) thequeue engine for updated queue data. Step 645 may be performed in amanner similar to step “E” described above. At step 650, the queueengine determines whether the client is to be released from the queue,e.g., by determining whet the client position in the queue is within anumber “n” indicated by the host. In embodiments, the next “n” number ofclients is indicated by the host at step 655. The indication ofavailability at step 655 can occur at any time during the process, andmay be performed in a manner similar to step “G” described above.

When it is determined at step 650 that the client is not within the next“n” number of clients to be released, or when “n” equals zero, then atstep 660 the queue engine provides updated queue data to the client. Theclient's custom error page is updated at step 640 based on the updatedqueue data. Step 660 may be performed in a manner similar to step “F”described above.

On the other hand, when the client is determined at step 650 to bewithin the next “n” number of clients to be released, then at step 665the queue engine provides a token to the client. Step 665 may beperformed in a manner similar to step “H” described above.

At step 670, the script causes the client browser to automaticallyresubmit the HTTP request, including the token, to the host. Step 670may be performed in a manner similar to step “I” described above.

At step 675, the HTTP server of the host processes the request from step670, e.g., by serving the requested web page to the client. Step 675 maybe performed in a manner similar to step “J” described above. At step680, the client browser displays the web page that was provided by thehost at step 675.

In further embodiments, at step 685 the queue engine eventually informsthe host that the queue for the particular website is empty (e.g., noclients remain in the queue). Then, at step 690, the agent may switchthe host to normal (non-token-based) operating mode.

In embodiments, a service provider, such as a Solution Integrator, couldoffer to perform the processes described herein, e.g., the processesperformed by the queue engine 80, among other processes. In this case,the service provider can create, maintain, deploy, support, etc., thecomputer infrastructure that performs the process steps of the inventionfor one or more customers. These customers may be, for example, anybusiness that uses technology and provides or utilizes services. Inreturn, the service provider can receive payment from the customer(s)under a subscription and/or fee agreement and/or the service providercan receive payment from the sale of advertising content to one or morethird parties.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed:
 1. A system implemented in hardware and comprising acomputer infrastructure operable to: maintain a queue of clientsrequesting a web page when: a host has been determined to be temporarilyunable to serve the web page to the clients, and the host has switchedfrom a non-token-based operating mode in which an HTTP server handlesrequests for the web page without tokens to a token-based operating modein which the HTTP server only handles requests for the web page thatinclude the tokens; receive an asynchronous call from one of the clientsin the queue to get updated queue data; receive an indication of anavailability number from a host of the web page, wherein theavailability number is a number “n” that indicates a number of threadsavailable at the host to process new requests for the web page; andtransmit the tokens to “n” number of the clients at the top of thequeue, the tokens identifying the “n” number of the clients as havingbeen released from the queue, wherein the transmitting is performed in apull manner after and as a result of receiving another asynchronous callfrom the one of the clients.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the tokencomprises a data structure that directs the host to handle a pagerequest with the token ahead of a page request without the token.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the queue is a first in first out queue. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the computer infrastructure is operableto maintain the queue when: the host has been determined to betemporarily unable to serve the web page to the clients, and the hosthas switched from a non-token-based operating mode in which the HTTPserver handles requests for the web page without tokens to a token-basedoperating mode in which the HTTP server only handles requests for theweb page that include the tokens.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thecomputer infrastructure is further operable to receive a request fromeach one of the clients to be included in the queue.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the request from each one of the clients is receivedfrom a browser of each one of the clients.
 7. The system of claim 5,wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to send updatedqueue data to the at least one of the clients based on the receiving thecall.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the updated queue data comprisesa position in the queue and an estimated wait time, both associated withthe at least one of the clients.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thecomputer infrastructure is further operable to determine the estimatedwait time based on statistics associated with the host.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the estimated wait time is based on an averageresponse time for the host to handle a page request for the web pageduring non-peak times.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computerinfrastructure is further operable to: determine that a non-callingclient in the queue has not made an asynchronous call at an expectedpredetermined time interval; and based on the determining, delete thenon-calling client from the queue and adjusting positions of otherclients in the queue according to the deleting the non-calling client.12. The system of claim 1, wherein the maintaining, the receiving, andthe releasing are performed by a queue engine running at a node in acloud environment.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein a service providerat least one of creates, maintains, deploys and supports the computerinfrastructure.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein: the queue serversimultaneously maintains and manages a plural different queues forplural different websites of plural different hosts; the web page is oneof the plural different websites; and the queue is one of the pluraldifferent queues.
 15. A computer program product comprising a computerreadable hardware storage device having readable program instructionsstored on the computer readable hardware storage device, the programinstructions comprising: program instructions to receive an indicationfrom a client that a web page at a host is temporarily unavailable,wherein the indication includes data identifying the web page, host, anda timestamp associated with a request for the web page; programinstructions to switch from a non-token-based operating mode in which anHTTP server handles requests for the web page without tokens to atoken-based operating mode in which the HTTP server only handlesrequests for the web page that include the tokens; program instructionsto add the client to a queue with a plurality of other clients waitingfor the web page; program instructions to send queue data to the client,the queue data comprising: a unique identifier for the client related tothe request, a position in the queue, data informing a user not torefresh the request for the web page, and an estimate wait time in thequeue; program instructions to periodically receive calls from theclient, wherein the calls comprise an asynchronous call to obtain anupdated position in the queue; program instructions to provide updatedqueue data to the client based on the calls, wherein the queue data andthe updated queue data include queue position; program instructions toreceive a communication from the host indicating that “n” threads areavailable to process new requests for the web page, wherein “n” isnumber greater than zero; and program instructions to transmit, based onthe receiving the communication from the host, “n” tokens to “n” of theclients at the top of the queue, the tokens identifying the clients atthe top of the queue as having been released from the queue, wherein thetransmitting is performed in a pull manner after and as a result ofreceiving another asynchronous call from the client.
 16. The computerprogram product of claim 15, wherein the queue data and the updatedqueue data are configured for providing an error page at a browser ofthe client.
 17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein errorpage includes the position in the queue and the estimated wait time. 18.The computer program product of claim 15, wherein steps implemented bythe program instructions of claim 15 are provided by a service provideron a subscription, advertising, and/or fee basis.
 19. A method ofqueuing clients when a web page is temporarily unavailable comprising:receiving, at a host of a web page, a request for the web page from abrowser of a client; determining a temporary inability to serve the webpage to the client; switching from a non-token-based operating mode,which handles requests for the web page that do not include tokens, to atoken-based operating mode, which only handles the requests for the webpage that include tokens; sending an error page to the client, whereinthe error page includes a script that: causes the browser toautomatically contact a service that maintains a queue associated withthe web page and request inclusion in the queue; and causes the browserto periodically asynchronously poll the service to request updated queuedata of the client; determining an availability number, wherein theavailability number is a number “n” that equals a number of threadsavailable to process new requests for the web page; and communicatingthe availability number to the service that maintains the queue, whereinthe script is embedded in the error page and, after receiving a tokenfrom the service that maintains the queue, causes the browser toautomatically re-submit a request for the web page and the token to thehost.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the error page is configuredto display a position in the queue and an estimated wait time to theclient.